I been training at the wrong place

Arnold's on Twitter

Sweet

Scariest Halloween Costume

Why have I been toiling in the gym when I could have dropped 57 bucks on this gem?
Gross:

Best posing routine ever

(pause)

Not
Thanks Cr1key!

Sugar Stacks

Basically all the crap you eat, with the equivalent of sugar cubes so you can see just how disgusting you are about to be when you put that soda or other junk to your lips...

HERE

The Science Behind Overeating

Damn man, I knew it wasn't my fault!
Here

I guess her workout album is garbage

Literally.
Seen outside trader joes in Emeryville yesterday.

Are you really HELPING yourself?

Seen @ work today

I think louie just threw a bear into space

yep, I was right

Ew

Clump city

That's the bodybuilding way

Never too big

Hey Arnold

Nice stache...

Delicious but deadly

Killing your health and fitness goals one calorie at a time

Man V. Machine

Look what I found

100% cold filtered wpi at costco 21.99

Bodybuilders: The Documentary

Circa 2000

A Bodybuilder's Nightmare

Last night I dreamt I was getting ready to jump on stage, but instead of having dieted for 16-20 weeks, I was going on stage as I am right now- no tan, hairy legs, extra gut etc. etc.  Hell I dont think my hair was even done.

This is the 2nd time I've had this dream in the last month or so...

I wonder what it all means?  I think my body knows that, hey idiot, it's march and you're not dieting, what's wrong with you??? I've been on a diet this time for the last 2 years, so it probably feels weird not killing myself.

It also probably has a lil to do with the fact that I'm packing a lil more gut baggage than I find acceptable.  

Me, carrie, john, and one of carrie's coworkers are going on a 4 week cut starting April 1 (who's the real fool?)  Why dont u join us?

Lead by Example?

Where were these pics taken?

A) Safeway
B) Jon n Kate +8's house
C) Kirstie Alley's House
D) My gym's refrigerator

If you answered anything but D, you are have failed. This evening after my workout I jumped into our gym's staff lounge to grab some ice for my post-workout shake. I was surprised to find not 8, but 18 containers of ice cream. 18. Oh yeah, and 1 "lean cuisine."

Lead by example?? I think not...

Desktop Status

Winning, A photo by Michael Jeffries II

Free Shirts!

More Arnold classic hijinx

Arnold Weekend Photo Recap

The first pro I ran into, my countryman, Hidetada Yamagishi!

The view from our seats!

Me being sad at the strip club next to our hotel being closed. :(

John with the great Flex Wheeler.

Me with newly pro carded Evan Centopani.

BSN Girl Monique Minton
We were kinda far away

He Did It!

May I present, the 2009 Arnold Classic Champ!

Fine establishment

Next to our hotel in Columbus

Ryan and John Take Over Columbus

This year, John and I will be embarking on a journey to the armpit of America- Columbus, Ohio, to check out the Arnold Classic Sports festival. "The Arnold" as it's called, is not only one of the premier bodybuilding shows in the country (2nd only to the Olympia,) but it is also host to the world's largest sporting festival. Featuring 17,000 athletes competing in over 50 sports, the action doesnt stop.

The cool thing about going to the arnold, is the grand production that is put on at the expo- where the supplement companies, who basically keep bodybuilding alive, get together and throw supplements, t-shirts, women, backpacks, girls, females, and fitness chicks at your every day joe shmo bodybuilding fan.
Como se dice, "Boy-ya-yoing!?!"
This picture was formerly in the witness protection program.
My mom keeps this pic on the fridge. really.

The lineup is not as stacked as in years past, we wont see dennis wolf, phil heath, dexter jackson, or jay cutler. But John and I are really amped to see kai greene take on victor martinez. Victor is coming off patellar tendon knee surgery, so it'll definitely be interesting to see who comes out on top. Kai is large and in charge, and working with Charles Glass, so we should see some refinement.
My money's on this guy.

I'll be back with a prediction post and later with pics/vids from the show/expo.

Bodybuilding in Dubai

Be glad you live in America:

Well, during the holy month of Ramadan, you cannot eat or drink during daylight hours. So most of the local Muslims train at night, which means the gyms will stay open till 3 or 4 in the morning so they can train. Ramadan is no joke. If you get caught eating in public during the day, you could get arrested.

These colors dont run- the world!

Interesting article on Middle East Bodybuilders...

Breakfast of champions!

The Holy Quadrinity- Steak, quinoa, broccoli (with mac nut oil/seasalt), kimchi. Not bad for 8am.

How Could You Be So Armless!?!

I'm not the happiest with the size and development of my arms, They are definitely lagging in overall development- but hey, they're a work in progress. Most pros brag about 20+ inch guns. Mine stretch the tape at about 17 1/4 or so.

On Saturday night I had a dream that I had some inoperable bone cancer in my arms, and that they'd have to remove both limbs to save my life. Obviously I was upset, and was trying to think of all the things I could no longer do.
No longer would I hug, easily drive, play basketball, but worst of all, most lifts would be out of the question. I woke up so freaked out, and I think I slept funny making my arms tingle and burn while asleep. It actually took me a few seconds to realize, ok this is just a dream.

I am a lot more grateful for the arms that I have than I was before Saturday.

Muscle Muffins

Mmm, Egg muffins without the heart stopping, artery clogging "Mc" prefix.

After seeing a version of these on T-Nation, I decided to make my own. It's nice because you can't make a batch and it'll last a few days, just microwave and you're ready to go.

Recipe:

You'll need: 9-12 eggs, green onions, red onions, bell peppers, garlic, salt, pepper, 10 slices deli turkey, cheese

1. Preheat oven @375
   
2. Scramble eggs and pour into each cup, leaving about an 1/4 inch for the veggies
3. Chop and brown the sliced turkey for crunchy consistency
   
4. chop up the veggies to your desired consistency, I suggest a fine chop
5. Add all chopped ingredients being careful not to spill
6. Top with cheese
   
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes
   

Kimchi- bodybuilding food?

So after reading a post on T-nation, I saw that my dietary favorite, kimchi, or pickled cabbage, is actually very good for you...

It's nuts because when you buy a new can, you let it ferment and it keeps bubbling over, spilling juices everywhere. Delicious juices. Healthy juices. GET SOME!

According to Korea's national kimchi foundation, it's actually the jesus food, as the above diagram indicates. Cures scars and adjusts your biorhythm? sign me up!

A Six Pack- The 16 Eggs a Day Way

John and I do this for 16 weeks and I'll I get is blog hits from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
This guy does it, and apparently this is newsworthy for some reason...

"I cannot go anywhere in Vegas without people asking me how my abs are doing," he said.

Really guy, really?

"He's just skinny" says Carrie, and I have to agree....

I do this for 16 weeks, and I dont end up on CNN? WTF!?!?!

Worst Calf Cramp Ever...

When I went in for my massage on Sunday, the masseuse really put it down on my legs, especially my calves and IT band, so much so that I had to tell her to pump the brakes.

Yesterday I was doing single leg calf extensions on the sled, and my right leg began to furiously undulate and cramp beneath the skin. I know what these feel like because growing up I'd get them a lot, and would wake up screaming in the middle of the night.

With the old addage "you can find anything on youtube," in tact, you can see what I mean here:

Ouch.

This is why you're fat...

To be sung to the tune of "This is why I'm hot..."

Holy cow

An entire blog dedicated to grossly delicious mutant food pairings, and fried debauchery... Dont look at this if you're hungry, or if even if you're full. It's a good thing this wasn't sent to me when I was on my diet... And you thought the food pr0n post was bad...

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Thanks Cr1key!

1st MASSage...

Let's face it, there's no cool way for a guy to enter a spa... It's kinda like there's no cool way for a girl to pee standing up- there's just rules embedded in our DNA that are unbreakable.

In recognition of my Birthday Week efforts, Carrie wanted to treat me to a 2 for 1 spa deal where we got side by side massages...

Now I figured, Jay Cutler gets deep tissue work done quite often, so I can take a bodybuilder's approach to it, right?

I walk in, and the extremely soft spoken receptionist greets us. I notice the smell of peppermint and lemons. The air is warm, moist and quiet- there's cucumber infused water pitchers everywhere. I'm convinced it is physically impossible to be angry in this lobby.

We're led to our room with 2 beds, pure moods on blast so hard that I think that an Indian Chief with a coyote is about to hop out the closet. We're told to disrobe and make ourselves comfortable by two of the masseuses- who both probably dont weight 200 lbs combined.. We're asked if there are any areas we'd like them to focus on- from the unforgiving deadlifts and rack deadlifts, I know my lower back and traps could use some TLC. She then asks what intensity I'd like, giving the options of light, medium, or "deep." A man of pride, I can't say anything but deep, so away we go...

I lay face down and they return, and I am treated to some scented oils that really relax me.

Then it begins. I dunno if while I'm laying down with my face in the padded massage face cut out they slight 100lb rub master is switched with a lumberjack with really soft hands, but suddenly I'm getting manhandled.

I musta got the ol' bait n switch cuz she was kickin my butt...

I was going in expecting a relaxing experience, but really it turned out to be quite the challenge- I was still about sore from my Friday chest workout, and I swear she could feel where I needed work. Until she hit my quads- she worked them joints so hard I didn't know if I wanted to cry or laugh- I was digging my nails into my side in order try and not giggle. After trying to just bite my lip and bear it, I had to tell her to pump the brakes on the IT bad work though- that stuff was NO JOKE.

Now I'm back home and Im so relaxed, it's unreal. Let's see if it helps loosen me up for leg day tomorrow. I couldn't imagine going the day after squats.

Wuditlooklike

Last weekend, I thought it'd be funny to snap some pics for old times sake in the bathroom. This is especially appropriate with the previous post. This is me, 74 weeks out from the 2010 NPC whatever, haha.
Oddly enough the leg cuts have remained. Some say that you can carve detail in the muscle, but others advocate that muscle separation comes from size and development, not refinement.
My shoulders are lagging, but they always lag- the chest is thicker than previously- if only I could keep this size when I diet.
Here you can see the back- and the imbalance with my shoulders becomes really apparent.
Oh well, bodybuilding's not a sprint, it's a marathon...


*wuditlooklike=old old Redman song...

Shadow of my former self...

This weekend I was hanging out with some of my extended family.
The number one topic of discussion when I haven't seen family in a while is bodybuilding. Either uncles or cousins will want to size me up by asking me how much I bench (and they're usually baffled that I dont bench), or they want to know how they can get back into fighting shape (don't we all?)

My good cousin John was singing my praises and bragging to other family that under shirt lies a beast, an impressive one at that. "This guy is cut like u wouldn't believe!"

Here's where the off season shame of a bodybuilder comes in. I see the pro ball players, big, strong, fast, and cut up all year long.TO's got 99 problems but his 6-pack aint one...

As a competitive bodybuilder, I am in the best shape of my life one or two times a year, and decent shape the last half of my prep, usually 8 weeks out of the year. The rest of the time, I am a complete blubbery mess. Ok, not really, but I am definitely nothing close to what I've looked like on stage. When you open the door to muscle gains, a hint of fat usually sneaks in with it. Depending on your genetics, some get more fat than others. I'm what they'd call a mesomorph (although I used to think I was an ectomorph, or hard-gainer, but I was just not eating enough.) Ironically if your fat gets too high it will also inhibit muscle growth, so it's a fine balancing act.

Call it luck, (good for me, bad for her), but when I met Carrie, I was in the middle of my first contest prep. I remember telling her, "Don't get used to this, I dont look like this all year long."

But being the good woman she is, she hasn't minded my less chiseled physique.

I am my harshest critic. Reading the mags and websites etc. I hold myself to a pretty rigid standard, probably against guys who are like me, only in shape a small window of time. Hell look at Lee Priest. It's nice walking around looking like a beast, and it's pretty disconcerting when the shirts that were tight loosen up, but there's got to be a happy medium!

Lee Priest, ~300 lbs
Lee Priest, 200 lbs

Here I am, more than 6 months later, and I think my deep seeded fear of the treadmill has subsided. I find myself employing the tabata method , followed by 30 minutes of moderate intensity (3.0 mph, 10% incline) cardio 2-3 times per week. I'm even doing abs, even though it bores me to complete death (but is helping on my big exercises like deadlift/squat.)

Diet wise, I'm getting my protein in, and tracking it on my iPhone, but I'm still eating what I want. Deprivation is not something I'm good at.

I look at my contest pics, and would love to walk around like that all the time- but I remember all too well what it took to get there. So for now I'll let people think that I'm walking around like TO, until I can figure out a more humane way to get the physique to brag about- I'll just learn to live with the guilt.

Weights?

We don't need no stinkin' weights...

This is Dumb

Only a bodybuilder...

Three day weekends sorta bug. I train Monday, Wednesday, Friday. After 3 day weekends, I have to train 2 days back to back, and that's pretty draining, so I tend to dread the extra days off.

But we got big change coming, and we need to tip our hats to Dr. King for making this change possible. Word.

Go Get It!

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. -Steve Jobs

If you ever feel too good about yourself,

"they have this thing called 'the internet.' You can find a lot of people there who don't like you." -Tina Fey

"You have no balls, but I should of figured that with all the steroid use!!"

Someone in my family thought they'd take me down a peg or two by insulting my lack of testicular mass. As I've stated time and again, accusing a nattie bb'er of juicing is the highest compliment you can get. Being compared to my enhanced counterparts is actually an honor!

Just what I need, a bigger head. Lolz.

Stay on that grind...

This blog used to be called: "A 16 Week Journey to Enhanced Muscularity."
After my show in May, the title was no longer appropriate.
It's new title is sort of an homage to what I hope is a lifetime pursuit of being a better me.

Though I'm a lot better than I used to be, I still find myself, from time to time, obssessing over my abs, or a missed meal, or *gasp* a missed training session.

I think I found someone I could relate to, and his name is Mike Walker.

You can't buy that kind of joy!

His headline is: "Man Solves Rubix Cube After 26 Years of Trying, Weeps in Victory."

After 26 years of trying, Parker finally managed to solve the Rubik's cube that confounded him. Now, you may be thinking that he only occasionally picked up the puzzle, slowing his progress—but the reality is that he obsessed over it day after day, night after night.

I realize there are tons of vids on youtube showing 6 year olds completing it, people completing it with one hand etc, but before you nay-sayers make fun of this guy, realize that we have something rare on our hands. A person who never gave up, and put his nose to the grindstone and achieved his goal the old fashioned way- hard work, baby!

When's the last time you grinded like that?

Bravo good sir!